'Duke' Cunningham's release draws ridicule, relief

Has Randy "Duke" Cunningham paid his debt to society after a 100-month prison term?

The 71-year-old Navy ace, Vietnam War hero and former North County congressman convicted of taking bribes while in office was set to compete his prison term Tuesday and be released from a halfway house in New Orleans. But free is a relative term. Reaction to his release fell along a narrow spectrum, from ridicule to relief.

Cunningham pleaded guilty in 2005 to bribery, fraud and tax-evasion charges after taking at least $2.4 million from defense firms and sending them government contracts. From prison, he wrote: "I am human not an animal to keep whipping." In court papers and a lengthy phone interview two years ago, he said he was pressured to plead guilty, did not accept bribes and accused prosecutors of misconduct. Now he plans to go to Arkansas, where he has family, and write.

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Is Cunningham's debt to society paid?

Here is the concise version.

AP: Duke Cunningham completes longest prison sentence ever given to a member of Congress. Plans to live in cabin in Arkansas, write books.